Teachers Seeking Election Pay Went Home Disappointed

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition, “Unity of Teachers to Regain the Dignity of Teaching Profession” has issued a media release castigating the Commission on Elections for not fulfilling their promise once again regarding payments for teachers who served as Board of Election Tellers (BET) during the synchronize baranggay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections last October 29.

Two days after the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, payment for their labor amounting to a total of P2, 500.00 (P2000 per diem and P500 transportation allowance) is yet to reach teachers’ hands.

Base on TDC monitoring in Metro Manila, only the teachers who served as BET (Board of Election Tellers) in Manila, Quezon City and Pasig and Mandaluyong (both partially) were paid in advance, while the rest of the NCR are still waiting for their payment.

This is in contrary with the assurance given by the Comelec OIC Rex Borra last week that half of the payment shall be given prior to the election day. Poor teachers piled up in their schools cashier yesterday and earlier today only to find out that no funds are available yet for BET payment.

Unfortunately, this afternoon’s holiday will last until weekend; responsible officials are nowhere to be found. Thus teachers will wait longer for the payment of this errand.

This is actually one of the reasons why call for an optional election duties of public school teachers.

We encourage any comment or feedback on this article from the Comelec, DepEd and LGU officials concerned to air their sides.